Surgical instrument



Feb. 9, 1932. c. R. MEITZLER 1,844,588

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Sept. 11, 1928 INVENTO Y 5251? Patented Feb. 9, 1932 A ,UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES R. MEITZLER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YoRmAssreNoR or ONE-HALF To oscAR H. PIEP R AND onEHALE To ALrHoNs F. EIIEPER, BOTH OF ROCHESTER, NE

YORK

SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Application filed September 11, 1928. Serial No. 305,229.

The present invention relates to surgical instruments and embodies an improved d1- agnostic lamp for dental and general surgical use and is especially adapted for use in the examination and treatment of the teeth.

A further object of the invention is to provide theinstrument with improved means for insertion within the mouth of the patient and by which to supportit in posit on todirect the light within the oral cavity, whereby the operator may with the free use of both hands more readily and conveniently manipulate the instruments employed in the various treatments and operations uponthe teeth.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical and convenient instrument of this type having a readily detachable sanitary jacket or casing for the lamp provided with improved means for collecting andprojecting the light rays to effectively illuminate the oral cavity, whereby to afford a more thorough inspection of the areas to be examined.

Another object of the invention is to provide an instrumentof the'class described in which both the sanitary casing and lamp are readily detachable so that a plurality. of

casings may be provided for interchangeable use with one or more types of lamps, whereby to afford an ample supply of sterilized parts for use at various times.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification. i y

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation showing the instrument and one mannerof applying it to the mouth of the patient;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken longitudinally through the lamp tube or casmg; j

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the instrument with a portion of the holder broken away and showing by dotted lines dilferent positions to which the casing may be adjusted relative to the holder or vice versa;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line 1a-4a of Fig. 2; r

F 5 is a front View of the lamp casing with the detachableparts removed;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan takenon the line 6a-6a of Fig. 2, and a Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the holder for the instrumentshown removed therefrom. 1

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

In the present embodiment of invention, I provide a lamp tube or casing .10 having a knurled end 100 in which is threaded a tubular base 11 carrying a lamp support comprise ing a sleeve 12 and a detachable socket 13 in the outer end of which is mounted the lamp 14 having the usual filament 15 as shown in Fig. 2. The base 11 carries a conducting rod 16 extending into the sleeve 12 and being suitably connected with the lamp filament to complete the circuit. The usual flexible cord containing the circuit wires is shown at 17 and the wires are connected with the conducting rod in a suitable manner. A sleeve like handle 18 is slipped over the outer end of the base tube 11 with its inner end abutting the knurled portion lla of the tube, as shown in Fig. 1.

The lamp tube or casing 10 has on its outer end an enlarged head 19 substantially spherical in shape and having a transverse bore 20 forming the lamp chamber as shown in Fig. 2. The b01320 is at the outer end of the longitudinal bore 21 of the lamp tube and the axis of one intersects the axis of the other, preferably at an angle somewhat greater than 90 for a purpose which will appear hereinafter. The outer end of the bore 20 is closed by a lens 22 held in a suitable ring 23 forced within an enlarged portion of the boreso that the lens will not protrude from the head.

A concave disk shaped mirror or reflector 24 is inserted through the open end of the bore 20 before applying the lamp, the diameter of the disk being such as to form a close fit within the surrounding wall portion 25 of the head, which forms a circular seat for the peripheral edge ofthe mirror when adjusted to the position shown in Figs. 2 and at, where it is frictionally held or if preferred may be soldered or otherwise secured in position.

Fig. 1 illustrates a mouth in open position with the upper and lower teeth shown at 26 and 27 respectively. In this view the lamp tube is shown in position to illuminate the entire oral cavity and both sets of teeth at the same time. The lamp tube 10 and the parts depending therefrom are supported by a suitable holder, the construction of which is best shown in Fig. 7. This holder comprises a body portion 28, having spring like jaws 29 extending therefrom each ofwhichis turned outwardly at 30'to form a- V-shaped opening, whereby to facilitate insertion of the holder on the tube 10; The distance between the jaws when the holder is removed is considerably less than the diameter of the tube, sothat when applied as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the jaws will yieldingly grip the tube and the holder will remain in any position towhich it may be adjusted, either longitudinally or circumferentially of the tube.

Projecting from the body portion of the holder is a hook-shaped member 31 adapted to overlie the lower lip 32 of the mouth and to extend downwardly behind the lower front teeth. of the patient by which the lamp is supported as shown in Fig. 1. By sliding the tube within the holder or vice versa, the lens may be brought to different positions of elevation at the front of the oral cavity depending on whether or not it is desired to direct the light to the teeth at the front or back of the mouth, or centrally between the upper and lower teeth as shown by the full and dotted line posit-ion of the instrument in Fig. 1. Furthermore, if it is desired to direct the light to the right or left so as to highly illuminate the teeth of either jaw, the holder may be rotated upon the lamp tube so that the lens will project the light diagonally across from one side of the mouth to the other, the angle being varied as desired.

It will be noted that the axis of the bore 20 and consequently that of the lens forms an angle with the axis of the-lamp tube somewhat greater than 90". This particular angularity is of advantage in that the position at which the hook 31 supports the lamp tube when in engagement with the teeth as shown is such that the rays of light are evenly distributed between the upper and lower teeth as indicated in Fig. 1.

The lens is preferably of a design to spread the light rays and to direct them: over a relatively large area and the concave reflecting mirror is also designed to cooperate in pro.- ducing this result. The mirror is preferably made of metal and the reflecting surface may be formed either by highly polishing the sur face of the metal or by nickel plating the same, or otherwise as desired.

With the present mirror and lens arrangement a high degree of illumination is afiorded, and thus the efficiency of the instrument is increased over instruments of this class now in use.

The instrument may be used for various purposes, but is chiefly designed for use by dentists in examining the teeth, and particularly while treating or working on the same, the idea being to highly illuminate the parts to be treated without necessitating the use of the hands in the holding of the instrument, either by the dentist or the patient. When the lamp is held in the hand, as has been the practice heretofore, it has been difficult and almost impossible to keepthe light directed on: the area under inspection or treatment due to-the trembling, or shifting of the hand, which is very hard to hold in one position for any length: of time. VVith= the present arrangement, the lamp is adjusted to the desired position and being supported by the teeth. in the manner shown, remains fixed as long as desired.

The instrument may be used either with or without the holder, depending on the nature of the examination or treatments to be made.

The instrument is particularly useful in locating cavities or decayed portions of the teeth. By holding the lamp back of the teeth transillumination willbeafforded, or in other words the teeth will become translucent so that any defects can be readily detected. The lamp tube and holderth-erefor are quickly detachable and the tubes are also readily detachable from the base so that they may be easily removed and sterilized from time to time and kept ready for use whenever needed.

I claim as my invention: 1. An illuminating instrument for use by dentists-in examining or treating the teeth of a patient, comprising a lamp tube, a lamp angular positions with respect to the lens, l

said holder having a portion arranged to be inserted within the mouth of the patientfor support therein, whereby to hold the instru ment in position to project the light within the mouth. v

2. An illuminating instrument for use by dentists in examining or treating the teeth of a patient, comprising a lamp casing, a lamp therein, said casing. having an opening opposite the lamp, a lens carried by the casing in registry with the opening, a reflector carried by the casing on the opposite side of thelamp from the lens and a holder for the casing adjustable to different angular positions thereon and including a portion arranged to be inserted within the mouth of the patient for support therein whereby to hold the instrument in position to project the light within the mouth.

3. In an instrument of the class described, a lamp casing having a longitudinal bore for receiving a lamp support and having a head at one end provided with a transverse bore intersecting the axis of the longitudinal bore for receiving a lamp carried by the support, a dish-shaped reflecting mirror inserted within said transverse bore at one side of the axis of the longitudinal bore and having its peripheral edge seated upon the surrounding Wall portion of the head, a lens ring at the opposite side of said axis disposed within the transverse bore, and a lens carried by said ring.

4:. An illuminating instrument for use by dentists in examining or treating the teeth of a patient, comprising a lamp tube having a longitudinally extending bore and a lateralopening at one end communicating with said bore, an electric lamp enclosed within said tube opposite said opening, a support for the lamp within said bore, said lamp and said support being insertable within and removable from the bore of the tube as a unit, a base for the support detachably connected with the tube, a reflector within the tube on the opposite side of the lamp from said lateral opening and a holder on the tube for support ing it outside of the mouth of the patient,

said holder having a part adapted for support within the mouth of the patient.

5. An illuminating instrument for use by dentists in examining or treating the teeth of a patient, comprising a lamp tube having a longitudinally extending bore and a lateral opening at one end communicating with said bore, an electric lamp enclosed within said tube oppositesaid opening, a support for the lamp within said bore, said lamp and saidsupport being insertable within and removable from the bore of the tube as a unit, a base for the support detachably connected with the tube, a reflector within the tube on the opposite side of the lamp from said lateral opening, and a holder for the tube rotatable thereon and adjustable longitudinally thereof, said holder having a portion arranged for insertion within the mouth of the patient for support by the teeth.

CHARLES R. MEITZLER. 

